Bib pocket running shirt with side pockets

ABSTRACT

A running shirt with a bib pocket and additional pockets constructed on the front of the shirt for use in distance races. The bib pocket has a sheer material front so the identifying number printed on the race bib can easily be seen. The runner simply slides the bib into the pocket and closes the pocket with a zipper in order to hold the bib in place during a race.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/328,372 filed on Apr. 27, 2016.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to improvements in shirts worn by runners during distance races.

BACKGROUND

Today when a runner gets in line before a distance race, such as a marathon, he or she is handed a bib, with an identifying number, and four safety pins. The bib is then pinned to the running shirt which causes the runner to have to poke holes in his or her shirt or other clothing. Runners often need to keep some personal property with them while they run such as a car key, money, registration paper, driver's license, or credit card, and really have nowhere to put these items. Runners have actually poked through their skin with the pins trying to secure the bib. Runners also complain that the bib gets caught on obstacles when running in races such as mud runs or runs with obstacles involved, when snagged it will pull their clothes and the bib gets pulled away from the pins leaving them blowing in the wind. When the bib blows around it makes it difficult for a photographer to get the runners picture with their bib number, and it is a distraction to the runner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention the solution to the problem described above is a shirt with a bib holder, and with pockets built into the shirt, which does not exist in the market today. The runner simply slides the bib into position and zippers the pocket closed. There are no pins involved and the number can't get caught on any obstacles during the run. The side pockets can also be used to hold a key, money, papers, or the like. A zipper closes the pocket so that the runner has no chance of losing the bib while running. The side pockets are also zipper closed so that a driver's license, credit card, and the like are safe and secure while running. The built in bib holder may have an opening at the bottom in the event the runner has to remove the “tear away” label at the bottom of the bib. In that embodiment of the invention, the runner simply reaches in and gives it a tug to remove the bib through the opening, although not all races use this pull off tag section. The shirt also has a pocket or pockets stitched into the shirt or the sleeve of the shirt also for holding small items, such as cash or a key.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof shown, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a frontal view of the shirt as in one aspect of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the article of manufacture that is covered by this application. According to the present invention, a sleeveless running shirt (or singlet) 100 has a bib holder (or pocket) 101 that has approximate dimensions of 10 inches wide by 8 inches high and a border 102 that is approximately ½ inch wide. The running shirt can be a T shirt with sleeves, or of the racerback style (or singlet) as shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 (a racerback shirt for a woman runner). Styles of shirts covered by this application include T-shirts, tank top shirts, sleeveless shirts, and racerbacks, without any limitation as to the style of shirt to which this invention may apply. Bib 106 with identifying number 42663 as shown in FIG. 1 is slidably positioned in said holder 101 and said holder is closed by zipper 104. The transparent front 105 of the holder 101 is made of organza or tulle material or the like that allows the number of the bib 106 to be visible (as number 42663 is visible in FIG. 1). The built in bib holder 101 may also have an opening at the bottom (not shown) in the event the runner has to remove the “tear away” label at the bottom of the bib, in which case the runner simply reaches in and give it a tug to remove the label, although not all races use this pull off tag section (which opening is closed with a zipper that is similar to zipper 104, or in another embodiment, can be closed with snaps to allow for rapid extrication of the bib at the finish line). The shirt in FIG. 1 also has one or more side pockets 107 stitched into the side (or into the sleeve for sleeved shirts) also for holding small items, such as cash or a key, which pockets are closed by zippers 110 and have borders 109 that are approximately ½ inch wide. Said pockets 107 are on the order of 4½ inches wide by 3½ inches high. Said side pockets have faces 111 made of solid material, such as the same material used to make the shirt 100. FIG. 1 also shows the location for a logo 112 and for care instructions 113 on said shirt 100.

In another embodiment, a runners shirt 100 with a unitary bib holder (and pocket) 101 on the front of the shirt is constructed so that the holder 100 has a sheer material front 105 so the bib numbers can easily be seen through the sheer material front. The runner would simply unzip the solid material front and slide the bib into the pocket and zipper the pocket closed. The shirt can also be used for non-race/marathon running using the bib pocket 101 to hold cellphone or gloves, for example, while at the gym or on a walk. Optional side pockets 107 can also act as compartments to hold such small items as mentioned above.

As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the drawing shown and the manufacture as described herein represent only one embodiment of the invention covered hereby and this application does not limit the breadth of the invention covered hereby to such embodiment or drawing. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An article of manufacture comprising: a sleeveless shirt; a pocket constructed on the front of said shirt having a transparent front piece; and a zipper constructed on the top of said pocket, whereby said pocket is constructed to hold in place a distance race bib having a race number that identifies the wearer of the shirt as a participant in said race, which pocket can be closed by said zipper in order to secure said bib in said pocket and which number can be seen through the transparent front of said pocket.
 2. The article of manufacture of claim 1 further comprising; a second pocket sewn into the side of said shirt; and a second zipper constructed on the top of said pocket; whereby said second pocket can be closed by said zipper in order to secure the articles placed into said second pocket during said race.
 3. The article of manufacture of claim 1 or claim 2 in which said transparent front piece is made from one of the materials in the group consisting of organza and tulle material.
 4. An article of manufacture comprising: a race shirt; a pocket constructed on the front of said shirt having a transparent front piece; and a zipper constructed on the top of said pocket, whereby said pocket is constructed to hold in place a distance race bib having a race number that identifies the wearer of the shirt as a participant in said race, which pocket can be closed by said zipper in order to secure said bib in said pocket and which number can be seen through the transparent front of said pocket.
 5. The article of manufacture of claim 4 further comprising; a second pocket sewn into the side of said shirt; and a second zipper constructed on the top of said pocket; whereby said second pocket can be closed by said zipper in order to secure the articles placed into said second pocket during said race.
 6. The article of manufacture of claim 4 or claim 5 in which said transparent front piece is made from one of the materials in the group consisting of organza and tulle material.
 7. In a distance race running shirt, the improvement comprising: a pocket constructed on the front of said shirt having a transparent front piece; and a zipper constructed on the top of said pocket, whereby said pocket is constructed to hold in place a distance race bib having a race number that identifies the wearer of the shirt as a participant in said race, which pocket can be closed by said zipper in order to secure said bib in said pocket and which number can be seen through the transparent front of said pocket.
 8. The improvement of claim 7 further comprising; a second pocket sewn into the side of said shirt; and a second zipper constructed on the top of said pocket; whereby said second pocket can be closed by said zipper in order to secure the articles placed into said second pocket during said race.
 9. The improvement of claim 7 in which the bottom of said pocket further comprises a zippered opening whereby a removable section of said race bib can be extricated from said pocket.
 10. The improvement of claim 7, claim 8, or claim 9 in which said transparent front piece is made from one of the materials in the group consisting of organza and tulle material. 